Hydrogen fuel cell cathode gas inlet for eVTOL

Abstract

The present invention provides a hydrogen fuel cell cathode gas inlet for eVTOL, and belongs to the technical field of hydrogen fuel cells, the hydrogen fuel cell cathode gas inlet comprises a plurality of baffles capable of rotating around a gas inlet pipeline to adjust the size of the gas inlet, the rear ends of the baffles are hinged to the front end of the gas inlet pipeline, and gas inlet hinges are hinged between the adjacent baffles; the air inlet pipeline can rotate around a hinge to adjust the direction of the air inlet, the rear end of the air inlet pipeline is hinged to the front end of the fixed pipeline through a hinge, and the end face, facing the eVTOL, of the air inlet pipeline is open and attached to a shell of the eVTOL; the end face, facing the eVTOL, of the fixed pipeline is open, and the fixed pipeline is fixed to a shell of the eVTOL; the two foldable mechanisms are located on the two sides of the hinge and connected with the air inlet pipeline and the fixed pipeline. The size of the air inlet and the airflow direction can be adjusted, so that the hydrogen fuel cell can effectively convert chemical energy into electric energy in a flight environment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of hydrogen fuel cells, and in particular relates to a cathode air inlet of a hydrogen fuel cell for eVTOL. Background Art

[0002] In the process of rapid urbanization, ground traffic congestion in core cities has become an increasingly serious problem. For example, the congestion time on Huangpu Avenue in Guangzhou accounts for 80% of the whole day, which seriously affects the commuting efficiency of citizens, and there are many cases where the commuting time exceeds 60 minutes. In addition, the carbon emissions of urban transportation sectors have also risen accordingly. In 2020, the total carbon emissions of the global transportation sector reached about 4 billion tons. As the size of cities expands, the demand for medium and short-distance rapid transportation continues to grow, and the demand for fast and convenient transportation methods for business and daily life activities is becoming increasingly urgent. It is against this background that eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) as an innovative low-carbon and efficient air transportation tool has received widespread attention from the world.

[0003] The landmark events in the development of eVTOL technology include the breakthrough of multi-rotor flight control technology and the introduction of the eVTOL concept by AHA and AIAA. These are based on the continuous development of electrification technology, providing new possibilities for low-altitude flight in cities. The "Uber Elevate" air taxi plan proposed by Uber, NASA's definition of urban air traffic (UAM), and FFA's description of advanced air traffic (AAM) have further accelerated the development and application of eVTOL technology. As the technology matures, it is expected that by 2025, many eVTOL manufacturers will commercialize their products.

[0004] For eVTOL technology, the cathode air inlet design of hydrogen fuel cells is particularly critical, as it needs to provide a stable and efficient air supply for hydrogen fuel cells. Compared with traditional battery-driven solutions, hydrogen fuel cells can not only reduce the burden on urban power grids, but also solve problems such as slow charging speed, battery pack safety challenges, and low-temperature performance degradation. The application of hydrogen fuel cells in aircraft must also consider the impact of the flight environment, especially the impact of changes in air pressure and oxygen ratio on its performance at high altitudes.

[0005] In the process of solving these problems, it is crucial to innovate the air management technology of the hydrogen fuel cell system of eVTOL. The hydrogen fuel cell cathode air inlet design proposed in this invention came into being in this context, aiming to provide an efficient and adjustable air supply system for eVTOL aircraft to meet the urgent needs of urban air traffic for high-performance, low-carbon emission vehicles. Summary of the invention

[0006] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a cathode air inlet for a hydrogen fuel cell for eVTOL, the size of which and the direction of the air flow can be adjusted, so that the hydrogen fuel cell can effectively convert chemical energy into electrical energy in a flight environment. The technical solution adopted is: A cathode air inlet for a hydrogen fuel cell for an eVTOL, comprising: A plurality of baffles can rotate around the air intake pipeline to adjust the size of the air intake port, and the rear ends of the baffles are hinged to the front end of the air intake pipeline, and the air intake flaps are hinged between adjacent baffles; The air inlet pipeline can be rotated around the hinge to adjust the direction of the air inlet, and its rear end is hinged to the front end of the fixed pipeline through the hinge, and it is open to the end surface of the eVTOL and fits the shell of the eVTOL; The fixed pipeline is open toward the end surface of the eVTOL and is fixed to the shell of the eVTOL; and two foldable mechanisms, which are located on both sides of the hinge and connect the air intake pipeline and the fixed pipeline.

[0007] Preferably, one end of the foldable mechanism is clamped on the inner wall of the air intake pipeline, and the other end is clamped on the inner wall of the fixed pipeline.

[0008] Preferably, the foldable mechanism comprises: a plurality of foldable sheets which are sleeved in sequence, and the outer diameter R1 of the foldable sheet close to the fixed pipeline is smaller than the outer diameter R2 of the foldable sheet close to the air intake pipeline.

[0009] Preferably, a limiting structure is provided between adjacent folding sheets.

[0010] Preferably, the folding sheet is fan-shaped, and a preset distance R3 is formed between the folding sheet and the hinge.

[0011] Preferably, the air intake flap comprises a plurality of flaps stacked in sequence, each flap is provided with a waist-shaped hole and a positioning pin, the waist-shaped hole is a through hole; the positioning pin is provided on the outer surface of the flap; The positioning pin is sleeved in the waist-shaped hole on the next movable leaf, and the waist-shaped hole is sleeved on the positioning pin on the previous movable leaf.

[0012] Preferably, the air intake flap includes a plurality of flaps in contact with each other in sequence, and a guide column is provided on the outer surface of each flap. A guide hole is provided on the guide column for a connecting member to pass through. The connecting member is arc-shaped, one end of which is fixed to the outer surface of the previous flap, and the other end of which passes through the guide hole and extends to the outer surface of the next flap.

[0013] Preferably, the air intake flap and the foldable mechanism are both made of aluminum alloy.

[0014] Preferably, the No. 1 mechanism for driving the baffle to rotate is a No. 1 gas pressure rod, one end of which is hinged to the baffle through a support column, and the other end of which is hinged to the air intake pipeline.

[0015] Preferably, the No. 2 mechanism for driving the air intake pipeline to rotate is a No. 2 gas pressure rod, one end of which is hinged to the air intake pipeline and the other end is hinged to the fixed pipeline, and is located on the side of the foldable mechanism away from the shell.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are: The size of the air inlet and the direction of the airflow can be adjusted, so that the hydrogen fuel cell can effectively convert chemical energy into electrical energy in the flight environment. Specifically: the baffle drives the air intake flap to fold and unfold, dynamically adjusting the size of the air inlet; the air intake pipeline drives the foldable mechanism to change position, thereby changing the airflow direction to adapt to different flight states of the eVTOL aircraft. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 A first state diagram of a cathode air inlet of a hydrogen fuel cell for eVTOL; Figure 2 is a second state diagram of a cathode air inlet of a hydrogen fuel cell for eVTOL; Figure 3 is a third state diagram of a cathode air inlet of a hydrogen fuel cell for eVTOL; Figure 4 This is the installation diagram of mechanism No. 1; Figure 5 This is the installation diagram of the No. 2 mechanism; Figure 6 This is the structural diagram of the intake flap.

[0018] Among them, 1-baffle, 2-intake pipe, 3-foldable mechanism, 4-fixed pipe, 5-hinge, 6-intake flap. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The cathode air inlet of the hydrogen fuel cell for eVTOL of the present invention will be described in more detail below in conjunction with a schematic diagram, wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown, and it should be understood that those skilled in the art can modify the present invention described herein while still achieving the advantageous effects of the present invention. Therefore, the following description should be understood as being widely known to those skilled in the art, and not as a limitation of the present invention.

[0020] like Figures 1 to 5 , a hydrogen fuel cell cathode air inlet for eVTOL, comprising: Several baffles 1 can rotate around the air intake pipe 2 to adjust the size of the air intake port, and their rear ends are hinged to the front end of the air intake pipe 2, and the air intake flaps 6 are hinged between adjacent baffles 1; Figure 2 As shown, the two baffles 1 at both ends are fitted to the outer shell of the eVTOL.

[0021] The size of the air inlet is dynamically adjusted by folding and unfolding the air inlet flap 6.

[0022] The air inlet pipe 2 can rotate around the hinge 5 to adjust the direction of the air inlet, and its rear end is hinged to the front end of the fixed pipe 4 through the hinge 5, and it is open to the end face of the eVTOL and fits the shell of the eVTOL; The design of the air intake pipe 2 is conducive to guiding the air to flow to the cathode of the hydrogen fuel cell, that is, an outlet is opened on the fixed pipe 4, and the outlet is aligned with the cathode air intake on the battery. The internal structure of the air intake pipe 2 is optimized to reduce turbulence and resistance in the air flow to ensure that the gas is transmitted with the highest efficiency.

[0023] The fixed pipeline 4 is open toward the end surface of the eVTOL and is fixed to the shell of the eVTOL.

[0024] The fixed pipe 4 is designed to be tightly integrated with the shell or frame of the eVTOL to ensure that it can withstand the dynamic loads generated when the aircraft performs various maneuvers. The fixed pipe 4 is made of high-strength material to bear the structural strength and rigidity required for the foldable mechanism 3 and the baffle 1 connecting the air intake pipe 2.

[0025] And two foldable mechanisms 3 are located on both sides of the hinge 5 and connect the air intake pipeline 2 and the fixed pipeline 4.

[0026] The combination of the air intake line 2 and the foldable mechanism 3 allows the air flow direction to be controlled. That is, the foldable mechanism 3 enables the air intake line 2 to change direction as needed, thereby precisely controlling the path of the air flow into the hydrogen fuel cell.

[0027] The hinge and foldable mechanism 3 not only provides the required mechanical strength and stability, but also allows the flap to be folded when not in use to reduce the aerodynamic drag of the aircraft.

[0028] The combination of the baffle 1, the air intake flap 6 and the air intake pipe 2 is easy to adjust and disassemble, so that the air intake system has good variability and can maintain sealing under different flight conditions. On the other hand, the design of the fixed pipe 4 ensures the dynamic load bearing capacity of the device during the maneuvering operation of the aircraft, ensuring the overall stability of the system and the air supply efficiency of the hydrogen fuel cell.

[0029] In this embodiment, one end of the foldable mechanism 3 is clamped on the inner wall of the air intake pipe 2, and the other end is clamped on the inner wall of the fixed pipe 4. A buckle structure is formed between the foldable mechanism 3 and the air intake pipe 2 and the fixed pipe 4.

[0030] The foldable mechanism 3 includes: a plurality of foldable sheets which are sleeved in sequence, and the outer diameter R1 of the foldable sheet close to the fixed pipeline 4 is smaller than the outer diameter R2 of the foldable sheet close to the air intake pipeline 2 .

[0031] The folding sheet is a fan-shaped hollow structure, and a preset distance R3 is formed between the folding sheet and the hinge 5. That is, the folding mechanism 3 is used to compensate for the gap formed after the airflow direction changes.

[0032] Furthermore, a limiting structure is provided between adjacent folded sheets. The limiting mechanism includes a groove and a protrusion adapted to the groove. The protrusion is provided on the outer wall of the arc portion of the folded sheet with a small outer diameter and is provided close to the air intake pipe 2, and the groove is formed on the inner wall of the arc portion of the folded sheet with a large outer diameter and is provided close to the fixed pipe 4.

[0033] like Figure 6 As shown, the air intake flap 6 includes a plurality of flaps contacting each other in sequence, and a guide column is provided on the outer surface of each flap. A guide hole for a connecting member to pass through is provided on the guide column. The connecting member is arc-shaped, and one end thereof is fixed to the outer surface of the previous flap, and the other end thereof passes through the guide hole and extends to the outer surface of the next flap.

[0034] "External surface" refers to the surface facing away from the eVTOL.

[0035] Figure 2 In this state, the “next flap” refers to the flap close to the fixed pipeline 4 , and the “previous flap” refers to the flap far away from the fixed pipeline 4 .

[0036] In other embodiments, the air intake flap 6 includes a plurality of flaps stacked in sequence, each flap is provided with a waist-shaped hole and a positioning pin, the waist-shaped hole is a through hole; the positioning pin is provided on the outer surface of the flap; The positioning pin is sleeved in the waist-shaped hole on the next movable leaf, and the waist-shaped hole is sleeved on the positioning pin on the previous movable leaf.

[0037] The flap is fan-shaped, and a preset distance R4 is formed between the flap and the air intake pipe 2. That is, the air intake flap 6 between the flap and the hinge is used to compensate for the gap formed after the air intake port becomes larger.

[0038] The air intake flap 6 and the foldable mechanism 3 are both made of aluminum alloy.

[0039] When the aircraft is in operation, the baffle 1 is designed to adjust its opening and closing state and angle through an external control mechanism, so that the air inlet can increase or decrease the air inflow as needed.

[0040] Mechanism No. 1 is controlled by a central control system, which allows flexible adjustment of the gas flow rate according to the flight status of the eVTOL and external environmental conditions to optimize the performance of the hydrogen fuel cell.

[0041] Mechanism No. 2 causes the air inlet duct 2 and the foldable mechanism 3 to change position, thereby changing the direction of the airflow to adapt to different flight conditions of the eVTOL aircraft.

[0042] like Figure 4 As shown, the No. 1 mechanism for driving the baffle 1 to rotate is a No. 1 gas pressure rod, one end of which is hinged to the air intake pipe 2 through a support column, and the other end of which is hinged to the baffle 1.

[0043] like Figure 5 As shown, the second mechanism driving the air intake pipeline 2 to rotate is a second gas pressure rod, one end of which is hinged to the air intake pipeline 2 and the other end is hinged to the fixed pipeline 4, which is located on the side of the foldable mechanism 3 away from the shell.

[0044] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the present invention in any way. Any technician in the relevant technical field, without departing from the scope of the technical solution of the present invention, makes any form of equivalent replacement or modification to the technical solution and technical content disclosed in the present invention, which does not depart from the content of the technical solution of the present invention and still falls within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cathode air inlet for a hydrogen fuel cell for an eVTOL, characterized in that: include: A plurality of baffles (1) can rotate around the air intake pipeline (2) to adjust the size of the air intake port, and the rear ends of the baffles are hinged to the front end of the air intake pipeline (2), and air intake flaps (6) are hinged between adjacent baffles (1); The air inlet pipeline (2) can be rotated around the hinge (5) to adjust the direction of the air inlet, and its rear end is hinged to the front end of the fixed pipeline (4) through the hinge (5), and is open to the end surface of the eVTOL and fits the shell of the eVTOL; The fixed pipeline (4) is open toward the end surface of the eVTOL and is fixed to the shell of the eVTOL; and two foldable mechanisms (3) located on both sides of the hinge (5) and connected to the air intake pipeline (2) and the fixed pipeline (4).

2. The cathode air inlet of a hydrogen fuel cell for eVTOL according to claim 1, characterized in that: One end of the foldable mechanism (3) is clamped on the inner wall of the air intake pipeline (2), and the other end is clamped on the inner wall of the fixed pipeline (4).

3. The cathode air inlet of a hydrogen fuel cell for eVTOL according to claim 2, characterized in that: The foldable mechanism (3) comprises: a plurality of foldable sheets which are sleeved in sequence, wherein the outer diameter R1 of the foldable sheet close to the fixed pipeline (4) is smaller than the outer diameter R2 of the foldable sheet close to the air intake pipeline (2).

4. The cathode air inlet of a hydrogen fuel cell for eVTOL according to claim 3, characterized in that: A limiting structure is arranged between adjacent folding sheets.

5. The cathode air inlet of a hydrogen fuel cell for eVTOL according to claim 3, characterized in that: The folding sheet is fan-shaped, and a preset distance R3 is formed between the folding sheet and the hinge (5).

6. The cathode air inlet of a hydrogen fuel cell for eVTOL according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air intake flap (6) comprises a plurality of flaps stacked in sequence, each flap being provided with a waist-shaped hole and a positioning pin, the waist-shaped hole being a through hole; the positioning pin being provided on the outer surface of the flap; The positioning pin is sleeved in the waist-shaped hole on the next movable leaf, and the waist-shaped hole is sleeved on the positioning pin on the previous movable leaf.

7. The cathode air inlet of a hydrogen fuel cell for eVTOL according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air intake flap (6) comprises a plurality of flaps that are in contact with each other in sequence, a guide column being provided on the outer surface of each flap, a guide hole being provided on the guide column for a connecting member to pass through, the connecting member being arc-shaped, one end of which is fixed to the outer surface of the previous flap, and the other end of which passes through the guide hole and extends to the outer surface of the next flap.

8. The cathode air inlet of a hydrogen fuel cell for eVTOL according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air intake flap (6) and the foldable mechanism (3) are both made of aluminum alloy material.

9. The cathode air inlet of a hydrogen fuel cell for eVTOL according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first mechanism for driving the baffle plate (1) to rotate is a first gas pressure rod, one end of which is hinged to the baffle plate (1) via a support column, and the other end of which is hinged to the air intake pipeline (2).

10. The cathode air inlet of a hydrogen fuel cell for eVTOL according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second mechanism for driving the air intake pipeline (2) to rotate is a second gas pressure rod, one end of which is hinged to the air intake pipeline (2) and the other end of which is hinged to the fixed pipeline (4), and which is located on the side of the foldable mechanism (3) away from the housing.

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